Stabilization of the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin improves vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibody responses in mice - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #antibody
- #vaccine
- #influenza
- Stabilization of H5 clade 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin (HA) enhances vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibody responses in mice.
- Five mutations in H5 HA increased its melting temperature and stabilized the HA trimer, maintaining local structure while creating new hydrophobic interactions.
- Vaccination with stabilized H5 HA immunogens resulted in higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titers compared to non-stabilized versions.
- Stabilized immunogens shifted antibody responses toward the receptor binding site, increasing the proportion of neutralizing antibodies.
- mRNA-LNP vaccines with stabilized H5 HA protected mice against H5N1 challenge, demonstrating improved vaccine efficacy.
- The findings suggest that HA-stabilizing mutations can enhance pandemic preparedness vaccines targeting the widely circulating H5 clade.